Transcript Highlights:

• You guys know I started this when I took over as chair.
• This program, when we started, we just... ...didn't know where to go, but we knew the importance of it
• Good afternoon, Taylor Triffel on behalf of the California Fresh Fruit Association in support.

Committee: House Agriculture

Transcript Highlights:

• So starting to begin that hard work now.
• Let's start over. Good morning, Madam Chair and members.
• I think we're starting with nutria. Okay.
• So the conflict program has really started in, like, 2014 with some—we started noticing some of that.
• And I'll start with the golden mussel.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy convened for its first hearing and heard an overview from the Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Natural Resources Agency. The LAO emphasized California’s strong current revenues but warned of a structural budget problem, projected out-year deficits, and the need for a high bar on new spending. It generally supported the administration’s Proposition 4 spending plan as reasonable and consistent with bond requirements, while urging legislative oversight and caution about using special funds and adding ongoing commitments. Secretary Wade Crowfoot responded with an overview of climate, wildfire, water, coastal, and conservation challenges and highlighted progress under the Newsom administration, including clean energy growth, wildfire resilience investments, land conservation, tribal co-management, and outdoor access initiatives. He also discussed federal staffing cuts affecting California’s response capacity and said the state has had to fill gaps in flood forecasting, land management, and park access. Members then questioned the secretary about the Delta conveyance tunnel and broader water reliability issues. Crowfoot said the project remains important, is being pursued as a beneficiary-pays project, and is moving through the State Water Resources Control Board’s permitting process, while also stressing that it is only one part of a broader water strategy that includes levee strengthening, subsidence, groundwater storage, recycling, and conservation. Senators also raised concerns about permitting delays, invasive species, and the impact of position cuts on agency capacity; Crowfoot said streamlining is needed but that staffing remains essential. The committee then moved to the Department of Parks and Recreation, where Director Armando Quintero described the state park system, tribal agreements, wildfire and deferred maintenance work, and outdoor access programs such as the State Library Park Pass and Adventure Pass. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed ongoing $6.75 million General Fund transfer for the library park pass, arguing it did not meet the high bar for new ongoing spending, but several senators strongly supported the program as a low-cost way to expand access. Members also pressed Parks on reservation system problems and campsite no-shows. Department staff said they are updating website guidance, working with the reservation vendor, and implementing new no-show and reservation-modification rules effective July 1, including penalties for repeated no-shows and immediate reopening of vacant sites. The committee then heard a low-cost accommodations proposal, which Parks said would fund planning and construction at several sites using Proposition 68, reimbursements, and donations; the LAO said it had no concerns. Finally, the new director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Megan Hurdle, introduced herself and outlined the department’s mission, staffing, service-based budgeting, and Proposition 4 requests, including funding for salmon genetic tagging, hatchery repairs, and public access improvements. She said the department is focused on biodiversity, permitting streamlining, law enforcement, and human-wildlife conflict prevention, and noted that the agency is still updating its service-based budgeting analysis to identify gaps and priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> into our veterans jurisdiction starting into our veterans jurisdiction starting with<00:13:29.200
• :42.559><c> Burgers</c> grandfather started working at Burgers grandfather started working at Burgers
• </c> how I started farming.
• I started with a how I started farming.
• Should we start with that? I would love to start with that. Mr.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• So starting to begin that hard work now.
• Let's start over. Good morning, Madam Chair and members.
• I think we're starting with Nutria. Okay.
• So the conflict program has really started in, like, 2014, with some—we started noticing some of that
• And I'll start with the golden mussel.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we've got the public hearing sheet retrieved, and we're going to go ahead and get started.
• </c> ahead and get started. ahead and get started.
• rotating be affected by it, but I think rotating and<00:10:02.880><c> having</c><00:10:03.240><c> fresh
• eyes on on the and having fresh eyes on on the financials<00:10:05.960><c> is</c><00:10:06.200><c> a
• And you start looking—has my time expired?

Bills: HB163 , HB344 , HB163 , HB344 , SB11 , SB92 , SB164 , HB22 , HB89 , SB227 , SB6 , SB11 , SB92 , SB164 , HB22 , HB89 , SB227 , SB6

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: income tax, research expenditures, economic development, tax deductions, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Alabama tax law, educational intervention, State Superintendent, local boards of education, subpoena, accountability, state control, property improvement, private financing, energy efficiency, capital expenditure, local government, volunteer fire departments, federally insured financial institutions, fund management

Transcript Highlights:

• We will start with Parker. Will you offer the invocation, Parker, please? >> Sure. >> Let us pray.
• Um, we'll start with the introduction of the members.
• We'll start with the introduction of the members. >> Marilyn Lands, Alabama House District Madison County
• So, I think it's fresh on his hand. >> See if I paid attention or not. >> That's right. >> Wow. >> I've
• I'm glad you were here since you were the chairman of the Sunset when all this started.

Bills: SB78 , SB103 , SB113 , SB180 , SB78 , SB103 , SB113 , SB180

Committee: House Boards, Agencies and Commissions

Keywords: inhalants, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, possession, sale, misdemeanor, felony, criminal penalties, public health, public works, sealed bids, bid advertisement, procurement, government contracting, construction bids, municipal bidding, county bidding, state bidding, Department of Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• It started off obviously daily.
• start, and a chance to make something of themselves.
• So the reality of the situation is we need to start talking about it up front, and we need to start making
• Let's delay the start a couple of weeks.
• If you delay the start... ...bills yet.

Committee: House House Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1167, which would allow municipalities and counties to satisfy certain public-notice requirements by posting advertisements, publications, and printings on their official websites. The sponsor argued the bill is permissive, intended to modernize notice practices, reduce costs, and help governments meet statutory deadlines, while a Blackmun amendment required a six-month transition period in which notices would still be published in newspapers and the public would be alerted to the change. Newspaper and media representatives, along with tribal and rural community advocates, opposed the bill, arguing that print notices remain important for transparency, historical recordkeeping, and access in areas with limited internet service. Supporters from county and local government said newspaper publication schedules have become unreliable and that websites are a more effective way to reach the public. The committee adopted the Blackmun amendment and then passed SB 1167 as amended on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered SB 1021, as amended by a strike-everything that would require the Auditor General to refer evidence of possible criminal activity involving health profession regulatory boards to the Attorney General, with procedures for investigation and conflict-of-interest handling. The sponsor and amendment sponsor said the measure would create a mechanism for criminal findings in audit work to be acted on. With no opposition testimony, the committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1021 as amended on a 4-3 vote. Next was SB 1011, which would require county medical examiners or forensic pathologists to review an infant’s immunization and vaccination history, along with any countermeasures administered in the prior 90 days, in sudden unexplained infant death cases. The sponsor said the bill was a data-collection measure meant to improve accuracy, transparency, and prevention efforts. Opponents, including vaccine advocacy and disability representatives, said Arizona already collects this information, that unsafe sleep is the primary issue in most SIDS cases, and that the bill could fuel misinformation about vaccines. The committee passed SB 1011 on a 4-3 vote. The committee also heard SB 1013, a merit-based public employment bill that would prohibit hiring based on conditions other than merit. Supporters said it would ensure public employees are selected by qualifications and objective criteria; opponents argued existing law already bars discrimination and that the bill could create litigation risks and hinder outreach to underrepresented communities. The committee passed SB 1013 on a 4-3 vote. Finally, the committee considered SB 1015 and a strike-everything amendment that would replace the bill’s original detransition-liability language with the Arizona Thriving Families Act, creating a family and medical leave insurance program within Medicaid beginning in 2029. The original bill sponsor defended the underlying detransition-related liability concept as accountability and support for detransitioners, while opponents said it would function as a discriminatory backdoor ban on transition care for minors. The transcript ends during debate and explanation of the strike-everything amendment, before a final vote on SB 1015 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• It started off obviously daily.
• start, and a chance to make something of themselves.
• So the reality of the situation is we need to start talking about it up front, and we need to start making
• Let's delay the start a couple of weeks.
• Coming off the holidays and starting when we do is difficult.

Committees: House Government , House House Government Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• Housekeeping idols before we get started.
• We're going to start with Mr. Garrett.
• Texas through this farm that we started in 2016, we are about to surpass. 1.8 million servings of fresh
• We are going to start with Dr. Lopez.
• I'm gonna start with.

Committee: House Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we will start the review process on those applications.
• :44:31.119><c> on</c><00:44:31.440><c> those</c> start the review process on those start the review process
• pretty</c> started.
• It actually started pretty started.
• So I think that that's why this start.

Bills: HF4148

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• That seemed strange to me, so I started looking into it.
• And then in lines 10 through 14, it starts with a presupposition that this committee is already starting
• that this committee is already starting that this committee is already starting from<01:06:51.480><c
• What leads you to want to scrap the whole thing and start fresh with a county program versus having a
• teachers</c><01:11:25.880><c> at</c> start teachers gorm starts teachers at start teachers gorm starts

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's why I procedurally I'm just wondering: do we start fresh?
• All right, so if we ITL it, we have to start fresh with a new bill.
• </c><01:44:04.080><c> fresh</c> do we start fresh do we start fresh with<01:44:06.000><c> All</c><01:
• </c> to start fresh with a new bill. Right. to start fresh with a new bill. Right.
• ,</c><03:58:25.760><c> aluminum</c> the companies first started, aluminum the companies first started

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it looks like so, uh, we're going to go ahead and get started.
• I'll So, we'll go ahead and get started.
• We will go ahead and get started here.
• ><c> listening</c> what started with regional listening what started with regional listening tours<00
• </c><00:26:10.640><c> to</c> second year we're really starting to second year we're really starting to

Committee: House Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll start by saying it's been a remarkable decade.
• I'll start. Good morning, Chair and members.
• So we, a couple of weeks ago, have started the outreach on doing scoping.
• So we've started that process right now. All right. And what you learned from the past?
• We started the scoping process through the normal process if we had guidelines.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Climate, Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation opened its first hearing on the governor’s natural resources budget with Secretary Wade Crowfoot of the Natural Resources Agency. Crowfoot reviewed California’s recent climate and environmental challenges—drought, wildfire, heat, sea level rise, and federal uncertainty—and highlighted progress on clean energy, zero-emission vehicles, wildfire resilience, water management, coastal planning, conservation, tribal land return, and streamlined project delivery. Members praised his engagement and the administration’s work with tribes, and Crowfoot emphasized that the administration is focused on finishing major projects, improving nature-based solutions, and considering whether some temporary streamlining measures should be codified. He also discussed the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership and said the state is working with other Mediterranean-climate governments on wildfire, drought, and heat response. Members and the LAO then focused on budget conditions and priorities. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the state budget remains precarious despite strong revenues, with the governor’s proposal relying on borrowing and reserves and leaving large out-year deficits unresolved. The LAO urged a high bar for new spending, especially in a deficit environment, and recommended prioritizing immediate health and safety needs, avoiding new ongoing commitments, and thinking carefully about special funds. On Proposition 4, the LAO said the administration’s approach generally appeared reasonable and consistent with the bond, but noted implementation has been slow and that the Legislature may want to use appropriations language to shape broad programs such as home hardening, outdoor recreation, and climate education. The chair stressed that climate and environmental funds should be used for their intended purposes and that wildfire spending should shift more toward community hardening and home protection. The hearing then turned to water resilience and Proposition 4 spending. Department of Finance and department staff outlined the bond’s water-related funding for safe drinking water, drought, flood, water recycling, stormwater, groundwater management, dam safety, and the State Water Project. Members pressed for details on how funds would be prioritized, how grants would reach disadvantaged communities, and how the state would track the bond’s 40% target for vulnerable communities. Staff said new tools and reporting systems are being used to monitor allocations, and that AB 107 and related changes should speed up grant implementation by reducing redundant regulatory steps. The committee also discussed dam safety needs, State Water Project repairs, groundwater implementation grants, and the risk of relying on uncertain future revenues from the Salton Sea lithium tax. No votes were taken, and the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a few announcements before we get started. Please silence your cell phones.
• And we would like to start out by welcoming a new member of the committee, Representative Henry.
• Representative Glorioso, I'm fresh off the campaign trail, Mr.
• And a clock started ticking 30 days from that day. Proof of loss, okay?
• And a clock started ticking.

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• I started going 20 years ago. It's 20 years old now.
• Twenty years ago, I started going.
• And I think this is a great place for us to start.
• One life is too many and we have to start somewhere, and I think this is a great place for us to start
• So this bill, I think, is a great start.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll just go ahead and get started.
• They're using everything fresh. Service is awesome.
• They're using everything fresh.
• They're using everything fresh. Service is awesome.
• We've also started a community reimbursement program for homemaker and home respite services.

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services held an informational briefing on Kupuna Care funding, distribution, utilization, and the status of program rules. The Office of Aging explained that state Kupuna Care funds are distributed using the same federally approved interstate funding formula used for Older Americans Act funds, with eight weighted factors tailored to Hawaii’s conditions: older adults, greatest economic need, low-income minority status, disability, language barriers, geographic isolation, inverse population density, and older adults living alone in poverty. The department said the formula is based on census and American Community Survey data, with current county shares listed as Kauai 7.45%, Honolulu 69.61%, Maui 11.7%, and Hawaii County 17.88%. Officials said the formula is being reviewed with current data and will need federal approval and then public hearing before final adoption. Members questioned how the program works in practice, noting that the statute and eligibility language can sound like direct individual benefits even though services are delivered through area agencies on aging, ADRCs, and contracted providers such as meal and adult day care programs. The Office of Aging said ADRCs determine eligibility and then refer clients to authorized providers, who must meet service standards in their contracts. The chair pressed repeatedly for long-delayed rules, saying the Legislature had expected them years earlier and that clear rules are needed to ensure funds are spent properly and to avoid conflicts of interest. The department acknowledged the delay, said draft rules were written in 2023 after earlier commitments to finish sooner, and said it paused while federal Older Americans Act rules were being updated; it now expects to send the rules to the Deputy Attorney General, then out for public hearing, with a goal of completion in 2025. The department also reported utilization data for the last two fiscal years. In 2023, it expended about 93% of its allocation and served 5,473 older adults at an average annual cost of $1,358; in 2024, it expended about 97% and served 5,520 older adults, with the average cost down by about $200, which officials said may indicate fewer services per person. Eligibility was described as age 60 or older, U.S. citizen or qualified alien, with cognitive impairment or disability and functional deficits, and the statewide profile showed many participants were homebound, living alone, or below poverty. The most-used services were transportation, case management, and home-delivered meals. The chair also asked about the former Kupuna caregiver program; officials said the programs are now combined under Kupuna Care, with most funding going to adult day care to provide respite for working caregivers. County representatives then described local conditions, especially on Hawaii Island. Hawaii County officials said the county covers about 5,000 square miles, has about 208,000 residents, and roughly 24% are age 65 or older. They identified three main challenges: staffing shortages and retention problems among providers, shortages within the county department itself, and the loss of adult day care capacity, with only one center remaining on the island and none on the west side. They said these constraints limit service delivery even as demand grows. At the same time, they highlighted successes such as serving people in the community before they need higher levels of care, providing caregiver counseling and training through adult day care, serving 467 individuals locally, and ensuring the Resource Center answers calls from caregivers seeking help.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are one member shy of a quorum, so we're going to start as a subcommittee.
• I started doing this work because I was born and raised in West Long Beach.
• Would you like to start with SB 542 or SB 676? I'm going to start with SB 542, please.
• I'd like to start off by accepting the committee amendments.
• I'd like to start off by accepting the committee amendments.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 14, which would direct state agencies to reduce single-use plastics and improve waste diversion at state facilities by updating integrated waste management plans, increasing reusable foodware use, reducing paper purchasing, and requiring better employee education and recycling/composting practices. Supporters from the California Compost Coalition, Republic Services, Waste Management, and others said the bill would help build composting and recycling markets and let the state lead by example. Several groups that had opposed earlier versions said they were now neutral after amendments, including the removal of a 90% requirement. The bill was moved out on a due pass as amended recommendation. The committee then took up SB 326 on wildfire mitigation. The bill would create a framework for Cal Fire to evaluate the risk-reduction benefits of fuels management and landscape resilience investments, and it would accelerate implementation of Zone Zero defensible-space standards, including grants for local enforcement and broader application to rental and sale properties and post-fire reconstruction. Support came from Stanford climate researcher Michael Mastrandrea and several local government, insurance, and climate groups. With no opposition, the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. Next, SB 34 on port emissions and the South Coast Air Quality Management District drew extensive testimony. The author said the bill was narrowed by committee amendments to preserve the ports’ ability to reduce emissions while preventing cargo throughput caps and addressing concerns about automation, local control, and the timeline for port clean-air planning. Supporters included ILWU, business groups, and port-related stakeholders, while the South Coast AQMD and many environmental and community organizations opposed it, arguing it would weaken public-health protections and set a bad precedent. After lengthy debate, the committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to Transportation, with some members voting no and others abstaining. The committee also heard SB 279, which would expand composting options for farmers and small community composters by allowing limited on-farm composting after large biomass events and increasing the amount small operations may process and sell. Supporters said the bill would help address agricultural waste, expand composting capacity, and reduce landfill disposal. Commercial composting representatives opposed it, warning that the bill could create regulatory inequities, strand recent investments in permitted facilities, and allow too much unregulated food waste. Despite those concerns, the bill passed to Appropriations on a due pass vote. The transcript also briefly referenced SB 613 on upstream methane emissions data, described as having no opposition and intended to improve tracking of imported oil and gas emissions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you can start, and then we will move from there. Good morning, everybody.
• Please start your presentation. All right, thank you. Thank you, Mr.
• I wanted to start at six because that was kind of starting to practice in American places, but I was
• I wanted to start at six because that was kind of starting to practice in American places, but I was
• Starting with a consent calendar.

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have a few announcements before we get started. Please silence your cell phones.
• We would like to start out by welcoming a new member of the committee, Representative Henry.
• All right, and we're going to start off this morning with House Bill 57 by Representative Glorioso.
• Representative Gloria also, I'm fresh off the campaign trail... Mr.
• It started in 2023. There was not enough support garnered for that bill, and it got shelved.

Committee: House Insurance

Summary: The House Committee on Insurance met on March 25 and took up House Bill 577 by Representative Glorioso, which would change Louisiana’s bad-faith insurance penalty language from a flat 50% to “up to 50%,” giving judges discretion to award a lower penalty in cases involving minor or technical delays. Glorioso argued the bill would correct an omission from the 2024 consolidation of the bad-faith statutes, reduce unnecessary litigation over nominal delays, and potentially help lower reinsurance and homeowners’ insurance costs. Committee members questioned whether the change would weaken consumer protections or reward insurer misconduct, especially in catastrophe claims after storms, and whether any real rate relief would follow. Opposition testimony came from the Louisiana Association of Justice and Real Reform Louisiana. They argued the current penalty provisions are important guardrails that help force timely payment and fair handling of claims, especially after hurricanes, and that the bill would reduce deterrence without producing meaningful premium reductions. They also said insurers already have substantial time and procedural protections under the law, and that penalties are rarely awarded but serve as leverage in settlement negotiations. Supporters and the Department of Insurance said Louisiana’s penalty structure is an outlier compared with other states and that the bill could make the market more competitive, though the department said it did not have court data on bad-faith judgments and could not quantify the bill’s effect on rates. After debate, Representative Glorioso closed by saying he was open to further language changes but asked the committee to advance the bill. The committee then voted 10 yeas and 6 nays to report House Bill 577 favorably. Afterward, the committee moved on to the next item, House Bill 955.